The relationship between expressions of C-type lectin receptors on natural killer cells and infant human cytomegalovirus infection / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the relationship between expressions of C-type lectin receptors on natural killer(NK) cells and infant human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. Methods Seventynine cases of HCMV infection infants and 39 cases of HCMV non-infection control infants admitted during January 2006 to June 2008 were recruited in this study. According to HCMV pp65 antigenemia levels in the peripheral blood, 79 cases of HCMV infection infants were divided into two groups 48cases of active HCMV infection and 31 cases of inactive HCMV infection. The 48 cases of infants with active HCMV infection were treated with ganciclovir for 2 weeks. The expressions of NKG2A,NKG2C, and NKG2D receptors on NK cells in the peripheral blood were examined by flow cytometry.Data analysis was done using SPSS 17.0 software. Comparisons among 3 groups were performed by Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test for independent samples and comparisons between groups were done by Mann-Whiteney nonparametric test for paired samples. Results There was no difference of the inhibitory receptor NKG2A expression on NK cells among groups of active HCMV infection, inactive HCMV infection and HCMV non-infection controls (x2 = 3. 95, P＞0. 05). However, there was obvious difference of activating receptors of NKG2C and NKG2D expressions on NK cells among the three groups (x2 =24.91 and x2 =47. 80, respectively; both P＜0.01). The expressions of NKG2C and NKG2D on NK cells in the HCMV infection group were both higher than the control group (Z=-4.72 and Z=-5.15, respectively; both P＜0.01). The expression of NKG2D on NK cells in the active HCMV infection group was higher than that in the inactive HCMV infection group (Z= -5.08,P＜0.01). The expression of NKG2D on NK cells decreased after ganciclovir treatment (Z= - 1.34,P=0. 07). Conclusion Expressions of NKG2C and NKG2D on NK cells might play a significant role in regulating NK cell function and anti-HCMV immunity in infants.